Paladin of Souls - Lois McMaster Bujold [22]
She said abruptly, “Learned dy Cabon, I thank the Temple for taking thought for me, and I shall be pleased to have your spiritual guidance upon my journey.”
“You honor me, Royina.” Dy Cabon, sitting, bowed as deeply as he could over his belly. “When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow,” said Ista.
A chorus of objection rose around the table: lists of persons and support not assembled, ladies-in-waiting, their maids, their grooms, of clothing, gear, of transport animals, of dy Baocia’s small army not yet arrived.
She almost added weakly, Or as soon as all can be arranged, but then stiffened her resolve. Her eye fell on Liss, chewing and listening with detached fascination.
“You are all correct,” Ista raised her voice to override the babble, which died in relief. She went on, “I do not have youth, or energy, or courage, or knowledge of how to make my way upon the road. So I shall commandeer some. I shall take the courier, Liss, to be my lady-in-waiting and my groom in one. And none more. That shall save three dozen mules right there.”
Liss nearly spat out the bite she was chewing.
“But she’s only a courier!” gasped Lady dy Hueltar.
“I assure you Chancellor dy Cazaril will not begrudge her to me. Couriers hold themselves ready to ride wherever they are ordered. What say you, Liss?”
Liss, eyes wide, finished gulping, and managed, “I think I’d make a better groom than waiting lady, Royina, but I will try my best for you.”
“Good. None could ask more.”
“You are the dowager royina!” dy Ferrej almost wailed. “You cannot go out on the roads with so little ceremony!”
“I plan a pilgrimage in humility, dy Ferrej, not a march in pride. Still . . . suppose I were not a royina? Suppose I were some simple widow of good family. What servants, what reasonable precautions would I take then?”
“Travel incognito?” Learned dy Cabon caught the idea instantly, while the rest were still gobbling in misdirected resistance. “That would certainly remove many distractions from your spiritual study, Royina. I suppose . . . such a woman would simply ask the Temple to provide her with escort in the usual way, and they would fill the request from the riders available.”
“Fine. That has been done for me already. Ferda, can your men ride tomorrow?”
The cacophony of protest was overridden by dy Gura’s simple, “Certainly. As you command, Royina.”
The shocked silence that followed was decidedly baffled. And even, possibly, a little thoughtful, if that was not too much to hope.
Ista sat back, a smile turning her lips.
“I must take thought for a name,” she said at length. “Neither dy Chalion nor dy Baocia will do, unsimple as they are.” Dy Hueltar? Ista shuddered. No. She ran down a mental list of other minor relatives of the provincars of Baocia. “Dy Ajelo would do.” The Ajelo family had scarcely crossed her view, and never once provided a lady-in-waiting to assist in Ista’s . . . keeping. She bore them no ill will. “I shall still be Ista, I think. It’s not so uncommon a name as to be remarked.”
The divine cleared his throat. “We need to confer a little tonight, then. I do not know what route you desire of me. A pilgrimage should have both a spiritual plan and, in necessary support of it, a material one.”
And hers had neither. And if she did not assert one, one would surely be foisted upon her. She said cautiously, “How have you led the pious before, Learned?”
“Well, that depends much upon the purposes of the pious.”
“I have some maps in my saddlebags that might supply some inspiration. I’ll fetch them, if you like,” Ferda offered.
“Yes,” said the divine gratefully. “That would be most helpful.”
Ferda hurried out of the chamber. Outside, the day drew toward sunset, and the servants moved quietly about the room, lighting the wall sconces. Foix leaned his elbows comfortably on the table, smiled